Can a landlord ask for bank statements?

Alberta's privacy commissioner does not mention bank statements, but its guidance limits a landlord to information reasonably needed to decide on your application, such as reasonable proof that you can pay the rent. Once you are a tenant, a landlord may collect financial information to process rent payments, only as much as it needs, and if you do not agree, it should consider another way for you to pay.

The Alberta Human Rights Commission gives refusing to rent to someone who receives income supports or rent subsidies as an example of discrimination, and lists screening tenants by a rent-to-income ratio as another. Source of income protection covers lawful income such as social assistance, AISH or disability benefits, not employment wages.

BC's privacy commissioner says proof of income or employment may be reasonable if you cannot give adequate references, and that a landlord cannot require your banking information before the tenancy is set up. Once you are chosen, rent can be collected in many ways, including cheque, money order, pre-authorized payment, e-transfer or credit card. Its guidance does not mention bank statements by name.

Lawful source of income is protected under BC's Human Rights Code. The Human Rights Commissioner says a landlord cannot refuse you because you receive social assistance or disability benefits.

Manitoba landlords follow the federal privacy law, PIPEDA, which treats your banking information as personal information. No Manitoba rule names bank statements.

The Manitoba Human Rights Commission says a landlord can judge ability to pay but must not rely on assumptions about it, and that when income is assessed you should be able to count income from all sources, including income that is not from a job, and to offer a guarantor or co-signer. Refusing you only because you receive disability benefits may be discrimination.

Saskatchewan landlords follow PIPEDA. The federal privacy commissioner says a landlord can ask to see your pay stubs to confirm income but likely does not need a copy. It has no specific guidance on bank statements, which count as financial records, so the usual rules apply: your consent, a stated purpose and no more than the landlord needs.

Receipt of public assistance (under the Saskatchewan Assistance Act or the Saskatchewan Income Plan Act) is a protected ground, and the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission says an ad cannot say the landlord will rent only to people who are working.

A landlord may ask for income information only if it also asks for credit references, rental history and permission for a credit check, and it must consider them together. The Ontario Human Rights Commission says income information should be limited to confirming that you have enough income to cover the rent, so what you show only needs to prove that.

The Commission also says a rent-to-income cut-off, such as a 30% rule, is illegal. Receipt of public assistance is a protected ground, and a landlord cannot charge you any fee to apply.

New Brunswick landlords follow PIPEDA, and the province says a landlord may ask for employment information. The Human Rights Commission says asking for income information is not discrimination in itself, but such inquiries should not violate your dignity and privacy or be used to screen out protected groups.

The Commission treats rent-to-income ratios as discriminatory against young people, people with low incomes and other groups. Source of income is protected as part of social condition.

Nova Scotia landlords follow PIPEDA, and the province's renting guide lists employment information as standard information a landlord can ask for. The federal privacy commissioner's proof-of-income guidance is about pay stubs, which a landlord can ask to see but likely does not need to copy; it does not mention bank statements.

Source of income is protected. The Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission says refusing someone whose income comes from Income Assistance, a student loan, EI or other benefits is discrimination.

PEI landlords follow PIPEDA. The federal privacy commissioner says privacy law does not stop a landlord from asking to see tax information or pay stubs, and that a landlord checking pay stubs likely does not need to keep a copy. Banking information counts as personal information under the same rules.

PEI's Human Rights Commission says source of income is about where your income comes from, not how much it is, and refusing you because your main income is Financial Assistance is not allowed.

Newfoundland and Labrador landlords follow PIPEDA, and neither of the federal privacy commissioner's landlord pages addresses bank statements. The Human Rights Commission says a landlord may collect income information but should use it only to check that you can pay the rent.

The Commission also says a landlord should not judge an applicant for disapproving of where their income comes from, such as Government Income Support or social assistance.